Shooting gallery apparatus in which a programmed robot competes with the operator

ABSTRACT

There is provided amusement apparatus enabling an externally rearwardly positioned operator to peer forwardly into an upright hollow housing and containing therewithin at least one target that is scoreably negotiatable by the operator with a manipulatable weapon attached to the housing. The housed target is also independently scoreably negotiatable by a programmed visible robot which seemingly to the operator takes aim and actively competes with him for the same target. Preferred embodiments include a plurality of distinct target locations, scheduling for automatically briefly displaying individual targets according to a predetermined schedule whereby the operator and robot might simultaneously compete for being the first to score a same target, an indicator to indicate the relative success of the operator and the robot of negotiating the target, reversing apparatus for the robot program relative to the targets presentation schedule thereby frustrating the operator&#39;&#39;s attempt to anticipate the robot, and handicaps to sharpen the robot and operator competition according to the operator&#39;&#39;s demonstrated weapon skill.

United States Patent [191 Brown Sept. 25, 1973 SHOOTING GALLERYAPPARATUS IN [57] ABSTRACT WHICH A PROGRAMMED ROBOT COMPETES WITH THEOPERATOR There is provided amusement apparatus enabling an Inventor:Richard L. Brown, Bellevue, Nebr. external. rearwarqly posmoned Operatorto peer. f wardly into an upright hollow housing and contammg [73]Assignee: Midway Manufacturing Company, therewithin at least one targetthat is scoreably negotia- Schiller Park, Ill. table by the operatorwith a manipulatable weapon attached to the housing. The housed targetis also inde- [22] May 1972 pendently scoreably negotiatable by aprogrammed vis- [2l] Appl. No.: 249,824 ible robot which seemingly tothe operator takes aim and actively competes with him for the sametarget. [52] U S Cl 273/l01 2 35/25 Preferred embodiments include aplurality of distinct [51] 1 7 9/00 target locations, scheduling forautomatically briefly 581 Field of Search 273/1011, 101.2, 9 targetsaccmdmg 3 predeler 273/101 1022 R 35/25 mmed sc e ule whereby theoperator and robot might simultaneously compete for being the first toscore a same target, an indicator to indicate the relative suc [56]References Cited cess of the operator and the robot of negotiating theUNITED STATES PATENTS target, reversing apparatus for the robot programrela- 1 ,909,772 5/1933 Lamb 273/95 R tive to the targets presentationschedule thereby frus 1 3 10/1933 Moray 1 273/101 trating the operatorsattempt to anticipate the robot,

f/lebanek and handicaps to sharpen the robot and operator comarney 12,299,205 8/1959 Zale 273/1012 i fi to the Operator S demonstratedPrimary ExaminerRichard C. Pinkham Assistant Examiner-Marvin Siskind 12Claims, 4 Drawing Figures AtzorneyGeorge R. Nimmer i0 /IOO f 1 E 12 Taiii 2 26 as a fl E a 23 Tc 52 as see PAIENTEB 392M975 airshowPmmenserzsma sawanr's V QFK.

SHOOTING GALLERY APPARATUS IN WHICH A PROGRAMMED ROBOT COMPETES WITH THEOPERATOR This invention relates to certain noteworthy improvements foramusement apparatus of the so-called shooting galleries" type whereinthe operator aims a rifle or other manipulatable weapon (real orsimulated) toward forwardly remote targets. Shooting gallery typeamusement apparatus of more recent years are of a relatively compactportable nature and commonly comprise a housing containing therewithinone or more targets and a forwardly pointing manually aimable andactuatable weapon attached to the housing. Thus, a rearwardly positionedoperator might scoreably negotiate the targets through forwardlypropelled missles, through electrical circuit connections, etc. Over theyears there has been the continued quest to make shooting galleries moreinteresting and challenging to the weapon-wielding operator. In thisregard, attention has been directed largely to the targets, such asmaking the targets rapidly moving or of briefly scheduled appearance tomake them more difficult for the operator to scoreably negotiate.However, target intricacies and scheduling are quickly mastered by moresophistieated operators and such players soon become disinterested. t

More recent prior art workers have concluded that interest and challengeare best provided in shooting gallery type apparatus when a competitionelement is introduced thereinto. In this vein, two or more weapons havebeen provided for use by a number of operators who can then comparetheir relative success in scoreably negotiating the same targets.However, such pluraloperators apparatus are not appropriate tocompanions of widely disparate weapon skill nor to the unaccompaniedindividual who wishes to participate by himself. To accommodate the solooperator, so-called dueling apparatus," such as in US. Pat. Nos.2,404,653 (Plebanek) and 2,957,693 (Ross), have been developed wherein amechanical manikin and the operator aim at each other in duelingfashion. However in such dueling apparatus the manikin opponent hastended to have slow and simple motions, which offers insufficientchallenge to'most players.

It is accordingly the general object of the present invention to providea shooting gallery type amusement apparatus having the element ofcompetition and that offers an unusually high degree of interest andchallenge to operators of various degrees of weaponry skill, includinghighly skilled and sophisticated operators.

It is another general object to provide a shooting gallery" typecompetition amusement apparatus wherein the competitor is a robotadapted to actively aim toward and compete for the same targets as doesthe operator.

It is a further and ancillary object to provide an amusement apparatusof the target shooting type wherein pre-scheduled targets areautomatically briefly displayed for simultaneous availability either tothe robot or to the operator.

It is another object to provide a robot competitor target shooting typeapparatus wherein there are means to frustrate the operators attempt toanticipate the robots targeting maneuvers.

It is a further object to humanize" the robot competitor to the extentthat it sometimes apparantly fails attempts to scoreably negotiatetargets, yet that offers challenging competition to relatively skilledoperators.

With the above and other objects and advantages in view, which willbecome more apparent as this description proceeds, the amusementapparatus of theshooting gallery type generally comprises a housing witha light-transmissive rearward side and including an externallyrearwardly located operators station, target means located within thehousing and capable of being scoreably negotiated independently by anoperators weapon manipulatable at the operators station and also by srobot competitive-armament attached to the housing and visuallyprominent from the operators station, program means for automaticallycontrolling the time period for the robot to scoreably negotiate thetarget means, indicator means to indicate the relative success of theoperator's weapon and the robot competitive-armament to scoreablynegotiate the same target, and other means for enhancing realistic andinteresting competition between the operator and robot for a displayedtarget.

In the drawing, wherein like characters refer to like parts in theseveral views, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a representative form of the shootinggallery type amusement apparatus of the present invention, rearward andlateral portions of a hollow housing frame being broken away to showcertain internal constructional details.

FIG. 2 is a sectional plan view taken along longitudinally extendinghorizontal line 2-.2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a sectional plan view taken along lines 33 of FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 4 is a schematic circuit diagram for the target shooting apparatusembodiment of FIGS. 1-3.

An initial brief treatment of the comparatively simplified FIGS. 1 and 2will serve to explain relative to embodiment S certain noteworthyfeatures of the target shooting type amusement apparatus of the presentinvention. Apparatus S generaliycomprisesz an upright hollow housing 10including an upright rearward portion including a light-transmissiveopening 11D whereby a player located at a rearward operators station(e.g. standing alongside 11F) might view forwardly into the housinginterior. There are target means displayable at ready-condition withinthe housing from a plurality of distinct locations; herein there arethree separated pop-up targets TA, TB, TC, each being automaticallybriefly displayable at up" readycondition. At the time instant of FIGS.1-4, pop-up" target TB only is in the up ready-condition while thesimilarly actuatable targets TA and TC are down beneath opaque screen I7and temporarily out-of-play. There is a simulated operators weapon, suchas the shoulder-gun form 40, located at the operators station; theplayers weapon 40 is manually aimable toward and capable of scoreablynegotiating the target means. A robot 50 (herein comprising a humanizedtoy figurine 50M and including the appearance of a waring' implement, e.g. elongated rifle form 51), is automatically programmed for scoreablynegotiating the target means and offering to the operator the visualphenomenon of competative-armament (e.g. 51) capable of independentlyactively competing with the operators weapon for the same target. Forexample, during the time when center target TB" only is displayed atready-condition, it can be scoreably negotiated independently by theplayers weapon 40 or by the robot whichever first aims accuratelytheretoward, as indicated in solid lines 40B and 51B. However, asindicated by phantom lines 40A and 51A and also by phantom line 40C and51C, the operators weapon and the robot can each independently scoreablynegotiate other targets (e.g. TA" and TC, respectively) whenever theyare displayed at ready-condition. The indicator means (such as throughsound indicator, light indicator, scoreboard 100 and timer 101, etc.)can then indicate how well the player fares compared to the robotcompetitor relative to the same target. As will be pointed out later ingreater detail, it is desireable for the purposes of enhancing realisticcompetition to have means for removing a ready-condition target fromdisplay immediately upon its initial scoreably negotiated hit," whetherby the operator (40) or by the competitive-armament (51 Commencing nowthe detailed description, the preferred upright hollow housing comprisesa plurality of interconnected panels 11 l6, herein as a pair ofhorizontal rectangular planar panels including a roofpanel loftilyoverlying a floor-panel 16, a vertical rectangular planar front-panel12, a pair of planar vertical (herein seven-sided) lateral-panelsincluding left-panel 13 and right-panel l4, and a generally verticallyextending rearward side 11. A plurality of legs 19, herein four innumber, depend from the respective corners of floor-panel 16 to elevatethe relatively stationary housing 10 above an underlying substrate (notshown). A scoreboard 100 and time-clock 101 might be supported uponhousing roof-panel l5. Rear-panel 11 comprises four rectangular planarsections including the vertical light-transmissive upper-section 11D, adashboard second-section 11E extending horizontally rearwardly of theupper-section lower end, a third section 11F extending verticallydownwardly of the second-station rearward terminus, and a fourth-section11G extending obliquely downwardly-forwardly from the lower end of thethird-section 1 IF to the rearward end of floor-panel 16. The dashboard11E (to which weapon W is attached) and the third-section 11F (againstwhich the player might lean) together provide the rearwardly locatedoperators station. There is herein an upright brace-panel 11H locatedimmediately forwardly of panels 11F and 110 and extending verticallyupwardly from the rearward end of floor-panel 16 to be co-planar withtransparent panel 11D. Commencing at bracepanel 11H (at co-elevationwith dashboard 11B) and extending upwardly and forwardly therefrom tofrontpanel 12 is an opaque screen 17. Screen 17 is provided with threekeyhole openings 17A, 17B, and 17C to allow respective targets TA, TB,and TC" to briefly pop-up" into view from beneath screen 17. Abase-panel 18 located beneath screen 17 extends between panels llH and12.

Each of the three briefly displayable pop-up" targets T is identical,and accordingly, the same refer-, ence characters might be used relativeto the constructional details of target members Ta, TB, and TC. Eachtarget "T" comprises a circular marker 21, at which the operator takesaim for scoring; marker 21 is attached to the upper end of an angularstandard 22. An electromagnetic solenoid 25 having a horizontallyreciprocatable spring-loaded normally-extended armature 26 causes thepopping-up of marker 21, solenoid 25 being attached to base-panel l8. lnthis vein, the lower end of standard 22 lies alongside the armature 26and is pivotably attached thereto with pin 23. A medial portion ofstandard 22 lies alongside a bracket 27 carried by the solenoid housingand is pivotably attached thereto with pin 24. Thus, as indicated withsolid line in target TB and with phantom line in target TC," during thetime period when solenoid 25 is electrically actuated the armature 26moves horizontally toward the solenoid housing and the target marker 21is in the up ready-condition, and above screen 17. However, as indicatedwith phantom line in target TB and with solid line in target TC,whenever there in an absence of electrical current flow to the solenoid,the spring-loaded armature 26, is extended further away from thesolenoid housing; thus, the marker 21 is not in ready-condition, but israther down into the screen openings, e.g. 17C.

As is well known in the prior art, the targets T might be brieflydisplayed in up ready-condition, according to a prescribed automaticschedule. For example, such target scheduling means might be based upona so-called stepper unit." Target stepper 30 herein comprises anelectrically non-conductive rectangular planar matrix 31 rigidlyattached to housing front-panel l2. Rotatably associated with andextending through the geometric center of matrix 31 is a rod 32.Parallel to one side of matrix 31 and extending radially from 32 is anelectrically-conductive wiper-arm 33, and parallel to the other side ofmatrix 31 is a ratchet-wheel 34, elements 33 and 34 being corotatablyattached to rod 32. Matrix 31 has a plurality of isolatedelectricallyconductive contact-stations (herein eight isolated buttonsspaced at regular 45 increments about center 32) which are adapted to becontacted step-wise by wiperarm 33. Thus, assuming a suitable initiator(such as pawl 35 and eight-teeth ratchet-wheel 34) causes rod 1 32 torotate step-wise at appropriate angular increments, electrical energy iscapable of being passed from rod 32 via stepwise wiper-arm 33 and thematrix buttons to an external load, e.g. the respective solenoids 25,matrices 49 and 56, etc. As will be reiterated later, for units 81 and87, elements analagous to 31 (with incremental contact-stations), 32,33, and an initiator (e.g. 34-35) are common to stepper units generally.For target stepper 30 three of the eight distinct buttoncontact-stations are arbitrarily called C" because each is electricallyconnected to the solenoid 25C for target TC. Similarly, another three ofthe stepper 30 buttons are arbitrarily called B because each iselectrically connected to the solenoid 25B for target TB; the remainingtwo buttons are arbitrarily called A, each being electrically connectedto the solenoid 25A for target TA. Thus, the angular position of thewiper-arm 33 determines which target T is at up ready-condition; in thedrawing wiper-arm 33 is arbitrarily shown at a button B and target TBthrough solenoid 25B is at ready-condition. As indicated schematicallyin FIG. 3, the initiator 34 is driven at small angular increments inconventional fashion with a pawl 35 reciprocatably motivated bystepper-solenoid 37 via 41. Extending above dash-board 11E is a socket43 for seating ball 42; thus, shoulder-gun 40 is supported at universaljoint 42-43 and is manually aimable in both azimuth and elevation towardthe individual targets T. An arm 45 is pivotably attached to the lowerend of stick 41 with pivot-pin 44 and extends downwardlyforwardlytherefrom toward a stationary electricallyinsulative horizontal matrix49 located below dashboard llE and attached to panel 11F. Anelectricallyconductive springy leaf 46 (having rearward ear 47) extendsdownwardly-forwardly from arm 45 and is adapted to bear against theelectrically-conductive contact-station buttons 49A, 49B, and 49C whichextend upwardly from matrix 49. The isolated positions of buttons 49A,49B, and 49C on matrix 49 are empirically selected according to theresultant position of leaf 46, when weapon 40 is aimably aligned withthe respective ready-condition targets TA," TB, and TC. Thus, aready-condition target T might be scoreably negotiated or hit" wheneverthe operator takes correct aim with weapon 40, which hit" can berecorded onto scoreboard 100 or some other indicator means. In thisvein, electrical wiring might extend from leaf ear 47 to first inductivecoil 90 capable of actuating a relay pole 91 for scoreboard 100. Weapon40 might optionally include a manipulatable trigger-switch 48 interposedbetween coil 90 and leaf ear 47.

As is well known in the prior art, for targets briefly displayable atready-condition, it is desireable that a hit" target be immediatelywithdrawn from view and a subsequent ready-condition target beimmediately displayed. In the case of a plurality of pop-up targets T,"there is herein independent wiring; between button 49A and the target,TA" solenoid 25A; between button 493 and the target TB solenoid 25B;and between button 49C and the target "TC solenoid 25C. First conductivecoil 90 is capable of actuating a relay pole 92 to de-energize thesolenoid 25 for that readycondition target which has just been scoreablynegotiated by weapon 40 whereupon current is permitted to pass tosteppensolenoid 37 and stepper unit 30 causes the next scheduled targetto be displayed at readycondition. At the instant shown in the drawing,target TB" is at ready-condition and leaf 46 is approaching button49Bfrom the counterclockwise direction-as indicated by the double-headedcurved arrow. When weapon 40 is correctly aimed at target TB and leaf 46contacts button 498 (and optional trigger 48 actuated), solenoid 37causes wiper-arm 33 to advance to button A and concurrently marker 21 oftarget TA" moves above screen 17 and to ready-condition and target TB"drops therebelow.

As a marked departure from the prior art, there is attached to thehousing automatically programmed competitive-armament apparently capableof independently scoreably negotiating the target means thereby offeringa simulated competitor for the operators weapon. In other words, thereis offered to the rearwardly stationed operator the visual phenomenon ofcompetitive-armament (e.g. simulated Waring implement 51) activelycompeting with the operator's weapon (e.g. 40) for the same target.Preferably, the competitive-armament is located within housing andclearly seen to the operator, such as being positioned at 50 betweenpanels 12 and 11D and above opaque screen 17. For the purposes ofproviding a realistic type armament (e.g. elongate simulated Waringrifle 51) is movable directionally by the robots automatic programmedcontrol means so as to be necessarily extended toward theready-condition target before same can be scoreably negotiated, i.e.hit.

For therobot embodiment 50 shown in the drawing, there is an uprightlyextending figurine (e.g. humanized manikin 50M) which integrallyincludes therewith an elongated horizontal Waring rifle form 51 as thesimulated competitive-armament. Rigidly attached to the manikin 50M andextending vertically downwardly therefrom through an enlarged opening ofscreen 17 is the vertical shaft 59 of motor 58. Motor 58, which ispreferably of the type having selectable dualdirectional capability forits shaft 59 "(as through two motor coils 58] and 58K), is hereinattached to basepanel 18 immediately forwardly of brace-panel llI-I.Rotatable motor shaft 59 also extends through an enlarged opening of ahorizontal matrix 56 (analagous to elements 31 and 49) which is hereinstationarily attached to the upper portion of brace-panel 11H. Anelectrically-conductive sweeper-bar 52 (having rear end 52R) extendshorizontally forwardly from rotat-' able motor shaft 59 and in verticalalignment with corotatable rifle form 51. Sweeper-bar 52 is adapted tocontact electrically-conductive contact-station buttons 56A, 56B, and56C which extend upwardly at isolated locations from matrix 56.Analagous as ,for buttons 49A-49C, the positions of isolated buttons56A, 56B, and 56C on matrix 56 are empirically selected according to theresultant position of sweeper-bar 52 when the robots simulatedcompetitive-armament 51 is nominally aimably aligned with the respectivereadycondition targets TA, TB, and TC. Thus, as exemplified in FIG. 4,if each button contact-station of matrix 56 is independently wired orotherwise actuatably connected to a single target T, then theautomatically programmed robot 50 is capable of itself scoreablynegotiating a target T, thereby providing simulated competition for theplayers weaponry skill. For example, at the timeinstant alluded to inFIGS. 3 and 4, motor 58 is causing co-rotatable elements 51 and 52 tomove counterclockwise (tri-headed curved arrow) toward button station568. If this happens before the operator can maneuver weapon 40 toattain contact between leaf spring 46 and button 49B, then target TB isscoreably negotiated or hit first (and won) by the robot 50.

As is best seen in FIG. 4, if each button station of matrix 50 isindependently wired (or otherwise actuatably connected) to only asingletarget T, then the target scoring of the robot can be exhibited in somefashion. For example, the above described pop-up type brieflydisplayable targets might be capable of being withdrawn from viewimmediately upon being first hit, whether attained first by the playeror by the robot. In this regard, as seen in FIG. 4, each buttonstacompetitor to the operator, the robot competitivetion of matrix 56 isindependently wired to a solenoid 25 of a different target T, and inparallelism to the independent wiring from the buttons of matrix 49 tosaid individual solenoids 25. Further, electrical wiring might extendfrom the sweeper-bar rear end 52R to a second inductive coil 95. Coil iscapable of actuating a relay pole 96 (in circuit parallelism with relaypole 92) to deenergize the solenoid 25 of the hit target whereuponstepper-solenoid 37 is actuated and the next scheduled ready-conditiontarget appears. As indicated in FIG. 4, after the ready-condition targetTB is first scoreably negotiated, either by the players weapon 40 or bythe robot (51), the target scheduling means via stepper-solenoid 37 andclockwise moving wiper-arm 33 causes target TA" to appear next inready-condition. As seen from the arbitrarily selected buttons order onmatrix 31, next subsequent targets singly displayed are: TC," TB," TC,etc.

As had been previously alluded to, there are indicator means to indicatethe relative success of the operators weapon (40) and the automaticallyprogrammed competitive-armament (51) to scoreably negotiate the targetmeans. For example, different audio indicators might be used, e.g. abell rung if the player wins a target and a horn sounded if the robotwins that same target. Or, there might be two scoreboards, one to recordthe number ofhits" made by the player and another to record the numberof targets hit by the robot. Herein, the indicator means arbitrarilyshown includes a game timer 101 during which time some number of singlydisplayed ready-condition targets are available to both the robot and tothe player; the number of targets won by the player (e.g. 06) isrecorded on scoreboard 100. Herein, timer 101 is shown interposed in thecircuitry adjacent to power supply 110.

There are desireably handicap means to adapt the apparatus to operatorsof widely differing weaponry skills. For the purpose of aiding thenovice or relatively unskilled players, an intermittent interruptermeans might be introduced into the robot program whereby the rebotstarget scoring capability is reduced. For example, a pair ofnormally-separated springy contacts 67 and 68 might be interposed in thecircuitry between second inductive coil 95 and the sweeper-arm 52. A cam69 rotating at some constant speed (e.g. the angular velocity for motorshaft 59) and according to some arbitrarily selected cam contour, isable to press contact 68 against contact 67 on an intermittent basis.For example, with that cam contour arbitrarily selected for FIG. 4, therobot 50 is able to scoreably negotiate a readycondition target T onlyintermittently and during about 50 percent of the overall playing time101.

On the other hand, for the purpose of making the robot competitionshooting type game more challenging for higher skilled players, the timerequired for the robot to scoreably negotiate the ready-conditiontargets can be reduced. For example, the angular velocity of motor shaft59 might be automatically increased when the player himself has won apredetermined number of targets. In this vein, there might be a pair ofparallel electrical resistors 88 and 89 interposed between the powersupply 97 and motor 58, the higher value resistor 89 only influencingthe motor 58 during the game initial duration whereby the speed of shaft59 and robot 50 is relatively slow. However, for the parallel branch ofthe lower value resistor 88 there is a stepper unit 87 (similar inconstruction to stepper 30) to isolate said low value resistor 88 duringthe early duration of play and until the player makes a prescribednumber of target hits. The stepper 87 is arbitrarily designed to bringand to maintain low resistor 88 into the circuitry of motor 58 when theoperator makes ten winning hits." In this vein, coil 90 is also capableof actuating relay pole 93 which controls through solenoid 85 the firstten steps of stepper 87.

Oftentimes the more experienced operator will be able to memorize thetarget scheduling means, e.g. 30,

and in this way gains undue advantage in being able to anticipate therobots program for approaching the next scheduled target. In order toneutralize those anticipatory maneuvers by the player, there can bemeans to automatically reverse the angular direction of robot 50 andshaft 59 each time the robot wins a target from the player, or theoperator wins a target from the robot, or other selected stimulusstemming from the relative success between the competitors. For thearbitrarily selected stimulus herein, motor shaft 59 reverses directioneach time the robot wins a target. As has been previously alluded to,motor 58 might be of the dualdirectional type which has two sets ofwindings (e.g. 58] and 58K). Selective current flow to one of the twomotor windings sets is governed by the stepper unit 81. In this vein,coil 95 is also capable of actuating relay pole 97 which controlsthrough solenoid 82 the stepper 81 which is structurally analagous tosteppers 30 and 87.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the robotcompetition shooting gallery amusement apparatus will be readilyunderstood and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary.However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur tothose skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention tothe exact construction shown and described, and accordingly, allsuitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, fallingwithin the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Amusement apparatus of the shooting gallery type and comprising:

A. An upright hollow housing with a lighttransmissive rearward side andalso including a rearwardly located operator's station;

B. Target means comprising at least one target located within saidhousing forwardly of the operators station,

C. an operator manipulatable weapon located rearwardly of the targetmeans, said target means being capable of being scoreably negotiated bysaid weapon;

D. robot means including a robot within said housing and being capableof scoreably negotiating the target independently of the operator, saidrobot offering to the stationed operator the visual phenomenon ofcompetitive-armament capable of competing with the operators weapon forscoreably negotiating said target means;

E. Program means for automatically controlling the time required for therobot competitive-armament to scoreably negotiate said target means; and

F. Indicator means to indicate the relative success of the operatormanipulated weapon and the automatically programmed robot to scoreablynegotiate the target means.

2. The shooting gallery type amusement apparatus of claim 1 wherein therobot comprises a figurine located within the housing and visuallyprominent to the operator, the figurine further having attached theretoa simulated waring implement extendable directionally toward the targetmeans.

3. The amusement apparatus of claim 2 wherein the target means isdisplayable at scoreably negotiatable ready-condition from a pluralityof distinct locations within said housing; and wherein the robotprogramming means is capable of extending the waring implement and inscoring capability toward a plurality of said distinct target locations.

4. The amusement apparatus of claim 3 wherein the target means includesa plurality of targets, individual targets being briefly automaticallydisplayed to the operator at ready-condition according to a prescribedtarget scheduling means; wherein the robot waring implement is rotatablyassociated with respect to said housing, the robot programming meansactuatably extending from the rotatable waring implement to theindicator means; and wherein for an individual target member atready-condition and upon its initial scoreable negotiation by thecompeting operators weapon and the programmed competitive-armament thereare means for automatically removing said target from readyconditiondisplay.

5. The amusement apparatus of claim 4 wherein the scheduling means forthe targets comprises a stepper unit that is advanced stepwise upon theinitial scoreable negotiation of a target; and wherein the robot includes a sweeper-bar in substantial vertical alignment and co-rotatablewith the waring implement, said sweeper-bar being adapted to be inelectrical conductive relationship with contact-stations nominallycoinciding with the angular positions of said distinct target locationsly 6. The amusement apparatus of claim 5 wherein the corotatablesweeper-bar and waring implement reverse direction whenever the robotcompetitive-armament wins a target thereby providing robot programreversing means relative to the targets scheduling means so as tofrustrate the operators attempt to anticipate the robot; and whereinthere are speed-up means for automatically increasing the angularvelocity of the; corotatable sweeper-bar and waring implement wheneverthe indicator means indicates higher relative success for the operatorsweapon.

7. The amusement apparatus of claim 4 wherein I there are intermittentinterruptermeans for the robot program to render the apparatus adaptablefor operators of relatively low weaponry skill.

8. The amusement apparatus of claim 1 wherein the target means includesa plurality of individual targets at distinctly separated locations,individual target members being briefly automatically displayed to theoperator at readycondition according to a prescribed target schedulingmeans; wherein the robot includes a simulated waring implementextendable directionally toward a plurality of said individual targets;wherein the robot programming means is capable of scoreable negotiationwhenever the waring implement simulated competitive-armament isdirectionally extended toward a ready-condition target; and wherein fora given individual target member at ready-condition and upon its initialscoreable negotiation by the competing operators weapon and theprogrammed competitivearmament there are means for automaticallyremoving said scored target from readycondition display.

9. The amusement apparatus of claim 8 wherein the individual targets arebriefly displayed through its own electromagnet means, the targetsdisplay scheduling means comprising a stepper unit that is advancedstepwise to the electromagnetic target displayer whenever aready-condition target has been scoreably negotiated; wherein the robotwaring implement is rotated through an electric motor; wherein the motorand waring implement reverse angular direction whenever the robotcompetitive-armament wins a target; and wherein there are motor speed-upmeans for automatically increasing the angular velocity of theco-rotatable sweeper-bar and waring implement whenever the indicatormeans indicates higher relative successes for the operators weapon. t

l0. Amusement Apparatus of the shooting gallery type and comprising:

A. An upright hollow housing having a rearward side incluidng alight-transmissive panel whereby an operator positioned at an operatorsstation located rearwardly of the light-transmissive panel might peerinto the housing interior toward the forward side thereof;

B. Target means comprising a plurality of individual targets atdistinctly separate locations'within the housing, said individualtargets being briefly automatically displayed to the operator atreadycondition according to a prescribed scheduling means; i

C. An operators weapon attached to the housing and being manipulatableby the operator rearwardly of said light-transmissive panel, saidoperators weapon being capable of apparently scoreably negotiatingrespective individual targets when manually aimed theretoward; V

D. A robot including simulated competitivearmament located within thehousing between the light-transmissive panel and the: said individualtargets, said competitive-armament being viewable to the operatorwithout obscuring attempts to aim the operators weapon toward individualtargets, said competitive-armament being directionally movable so as tobe extendable toward respective individual targets and also beingcapable of apparently scoreably negotiating said target means;

E. Program means for automatically controlling the time required for thecompetitive-armament to scoreably negotiate the individual targets; and

F. Indicator means to indicate the relative success of the operatormanipulated weapon and the automatically programmed competitive-armamentto t scoreably negotiate the target means.

11. The amusement apparatus of claim 10 wherein there are handicap meansto adopt the apparatus to operators of widely differing weaponry skills.

12. The amusement apparatus of claim 11 wherein the robotcompetitive-armament is a simulated waring implement rotated through theshaft of an electric motor; and wherein the handicap means includesmeans for automatically reversing the angular direction of theco-rotatable motor shaft and waring implement according to thedemonstrated relative competitive success of the operator's weapon andthe competitive-armament thereby frustrating the operator's attempt toanticipate the robot.

1. Amusement apparatus of the shooting gallery type and comprising: A.An upright hollow housing with a light-transmissive rearward side andalso including a rearwardly located operator''s station; B. Target meanscomprising at least one target located within said housing forwardly ofthe operator''s station, C. an operator manipulatable weapon locatedrearwardly of the target means, said target means being capable of beingscoreably negotiated by said weapon; D. robot means including a robotwithin said housing and being capable of scoreably negotiating thetarget independently of the operator, said robot offering to thestationed operator the visual phenomenon of competitive-armament capableof competing with the operator''s weapon for scoreably negotiating saidtarget means; E. Program means for automatically controlling the timerequired for the robot competitive-armament to scoreably negotiate saidtarget means; and F. Indicator means to indicate the relative success ofthe operator manipulated weapon and the automatically programmed robotto scoreably negotiate the target means.
 2. The shooting gallery typeamusement apparatus of claim 1 wherein the robot comprises a figurinelocated within the housing and visually prominent to the operator, thefigurine further having attached thereto a simulated waring implementextendable directionally toward the target means.
 3. The amusementapparatus of claim 2 wherein the target means is displayable atscoreably negotiatable ready-condition from a plurality of distinctlocations within said housing; and wherein the robot programming meansis capable of extending the waring implement and in scoring capabilitytoward a plurality of said distinct target locations.
 4. The amusementapparatus of claim 3 wherein the target means includes a plurality oftargets, individual targets being briefly automatically displayed to theoperator at ready-condition according to a prescribed target schedulingmeans; wherein the robot waring implement is rotatably associated withrespect to said housing, the robot programming means actuatablyextending from the rotatable waring implement to the indicator means;and wherein for an individual target member at ready-condition and uponits initial scoreable negotiation by the competing operator''s weaponand the programmed competitive-armament there are means forautomatically removing said target from ready-condition display.
 5. Theamusement apparatus of claim 4 wherein the scheduling means for thetargets comprises a stepper unit that is advanced step-wise upon theinitial scoreable negotiation of a target; and wherein the robotincludes a sweeper-bar in substantial vertical alignment andco-rotatable with the waring implement, said sweeper-bar being adaptedto be in electrical conductive relationship with contact-stationsnominally coinciding with the angular positions of said distinct targetlocations.
 6. The amusement apparatus of claim 5 wherein the corotatablesweeper-bar and waring implement reverse direction whenever the robotcompetitive-armament wins a target thereby providing robot programreversing means relative to the targets scheduling means so as tofrustrate the operator''s attempt to anticipate the robot; and whereinthere are speed-up means for automatically increasing the angularvelocity of the co-rotatable sweeper-bar and waring implement wheneverthe indicator means indicates higher relative success for theoperator''s weapon.
 7. The amusement apparatus of claim 4 wherein thereare intermittent interrupter means for the robot program to render theapparatus adaptable for operators of relatively low weaponry skill. 8.The amusement apparatus of claim 1 wherein the target means includes aplurality of individual targets at distinctly separated locations,individual target members being briefly automatically displayed to theoperator at ready-condition according to a prescribed target schedulingmeans; wherein the robot includes a simulated waring implementextendable directionally toward a plurality of said individual targets;wherein the robot programming means is capable of scoreable negotiationwhenever the waring implement simulated competitive-armament isdirectionally extended toward a ready-condition target; and wherein fora given individual target member at ready-condition and upon its initialscoreable negotiation by the competing operator''s weapon and theprogrammed competitive-armament there are means for automaticallyremoving said scored target from ready-condition display.
 9. Theamusement apparatus of claim 8 wherein the individual targets arebriefly displayed through its own electromagnet means, the targetsdisplay scheduling means comprising a stepper unit that is advancedstep-wise to the electromagnetic target displayer whenever aready-condition target has been scoreably negotiated; wherein the robotwaring implement is rotated through an electric motor; wherein the motorand waring implement reverse angular direction whenever the robotcompetitive-armament wins a target; and wherein there are motor speed-upmeans for automatically increasing the angular velocity of theco-rotatable sweeper-bar and waring implement whenever the indicatormeans indicates higher relative successes for the operator''s weapon.10. Amusement Apparatus of the shooting gallery type and comprising: A.An upright hollow housing having a rearward side incluidng alight-transmissive panel whereby an operator positioned at anoperator''s station located rearwardly of the light-transmissive panelmight peer into the housing interior toward the forward side thereof; B.Target means comprising a plurality of individual targets at distinctlyseparate locations within the housing, said individual targets beingbriefly automatically displayed to the operator at ready-conditionaccording to a prescribed scheduling means; C. An operator''s weaponattached to the housing and being manipulatable by the operatorrearwardly of said light-transmissive panel, said operator''s weaponbeing capable of apparently scoreably negotiating respective individualtargets when manually aimed theretoward; D. A robot including simulatedcompetitive-armament located within the housing between thelight-transmissive panel and the said individual targets, saidcompetitive-armament being viewable to the operator without obscuringattempts to aim the operator''s weapon toward individual targets, saidcompetitive-armament being directionally movable so as to be extendabletoward respective individual targets and also being capable ofapparently scoreably negotiating said target means; E. Program means forautomatically controlling the time required for the competitive-armamentto scoreably negotiate the individual targets; and F. Indicator means toindicate the relative success of the operator manipulated weapon and theautomatically programmed competitive-armament to scoreably negotiate thetarget means.
 11. The amusement apparatus of claim 10 wherein there arehandicap means to adopt the apparatus to operators of widely differingweaponry skills.
 12. The amusement apparatus of claim 11 wherein therobot competitive-armament is a simulated waring implement rotatedthrough the shaft of an electric motor; and wherein the handicap meansincludes means for automatically reversing the angular dirEction of theco-rotatable motor shaft and waring implement according to thedemonstrated relative competitive success of the operator''s weapon andthe competitive-armament thereby frustrating the operator''s attempt toanticipate the robot.